For the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Vieux Port is like a beehive, and Absolute Navetta 75 is moored inside. Everything has to be prepared in good time for departure and the shore power disconnected. To do this, not just a hatch is opened, but a narrow black door that is part of the stern fin. Its sharp-edged design is somewhat reminiscent of US road cruisers and the ribs are also reminiscent of the Art Deco theme. Practical and striking, that has always been Absolute's maxim. And it's not just the rear end that draws comparisons with the road: the Navetta 75 also forms a maritime counterpart to Cadillac and co. thanks to its width, interior volume and power reserves.
Early in the morning, the city harbour of Cannes is already dominated by the usual hustle and bustle of yachts arriving and departing. What's more, the constant on and off of the visitor bridges has to be timed correctly. But Cesare Mastroianni steers the flagship, powered by two IPS units, confidently from the Fly out onto the open sea. Mastroianni is not a shipyard captain, but the Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Absolute. This is also a kind of likeable pragmatism that speaks in favour of the shipyard from the north of Italy. The top sales manager points out the reason for the new model: the 20th anniversary of the brand. In addition to the Navetta 75, the portfolio includes six other sports cruisers, rounded off by a 48-foot model at the bottom. The Italians even still offer the Navetta 73, which was only launched five years ago. With the Flybridge and Coupé series, the Podenzano shipyard has a total of 17 different yachts to choose from. Around 150 kilometres north-east of Genoa, 250 employees produce up to 100 yachts per year on an area of 48,000 square metres.
Recognition value defined by chunky and sophisticated-looking hulls
All Absolute buildings are united by a coherent design language. There are the alternately chunky or refined-looking hulls, which always have deep edges and are crowned by superstructures with many bevelled edges. The reason for this complexity and continuity is that the chief designer has always been Sergio Maggi. He bears the fine title of CDO, Chief Design Officer, and was one of the co-founders of the shipyard in 2002. In the 22.82 metre long 75, the 73, whose hull shape it has adopted, shines through. The superstructure is also almost identical. Maggi and his team transferred the shape, which is reminiscent of the wings of a jet with its air intakes, down to the bulwark for the 75. This is still generously interrupted for the best view from the floor-to-ceiling saloon windows, but instead of a railing, it relies on a structural element that ends aft in an arch and is also open. This horizontal flow is emphasised by the window front of the saloon, which is no longer interrupted aft by a lateral connecting element between the main and fly decks. The horizontality is emphasised by what appears to be a continuous band of windows in the hull, which in reality is just a black paint job along the lower deck windows.
Another speciality of Absolute: In contrast to other Italian high-volume shipyards, the composite production of hulls, decks and superstructures is not outsourced. They are laminated exclusively by hand and the glass fibres are partly reinforced with Kevlar or carbon fabrics. The interior fittings are produced at the same time as the hull and are hoisted into the finished shell in modules. Production has a centralised air extraction and filter system, while robots ensure the automated flow of goods from the modern high-bay warehouse.
Eye-catcher on board the Absolute 75
We have arrived on the Golf de la Napoule, which is moving moderately. Mastroianni moves the transducer towards the horizon and lo and behold: absolutely nothing rattles, there are neither vibrations to be felt nor annoying squeaking noises to be heard. Not even when we descend five steps from the helm to starboard into the owner's area, whose bathroom is located directly behind the forepeak and is equipped with a spacious glass shower cubicle. A striking feature of the bed is the frame made of high-gloss lacquered Canaletto walnut wood, which is also reminiscent of Art Deco on the inside.
From the engine compartment, two D13 gensets from Volvo Penta each deliver up to 735 kilowatts of power to the two IPS-1350 units. Ten people were on board during the test drive and the bunkers were each filled with 60 per cent diesel and water. At 1000 rpm and 8.3 knots, consumption was an economical 33 litres of diesel per hour. We logged twelve knots at 1500 revolutions and an hourly diesel flow of 104 litres. "An economical journey is achieved at 2000 to 2200 revolutions," explains Cesare Mastroianni. Our top speed of 23.8 knots required 360 litres at 2400 rpm.
Freedom of movement and safety
All exterior and interior areas on the Navetta 75 are very easy to reach. There are two access points to the bridge from the wide running decks: on the port side via the closed galley - which is of course also available as an open version for the US market - and via a door opposite. There are also two staircases leading up to the fly from the cockpit and from the raised interior helm station. The sun deck covers almost two thirds of the hull and offers extras such as a wet bar, outdoor galley, convertible roof and a bimini that can be extended aft.
A safe passage to the lower deck is guaranteed by three handrails in addition to the railing of the stairs to starboard of the saloon. Below, a day toilet leads off the corridor, which is also used by the twin cabin in front. Absolute has installed a double cabin to port and a VIP suite amidships across the full width of 5.61 metres. The layout is fixed, and the interior fittings cannot be customised in terms of wood (walnut and elm) or fabrics. This has the advantage that materials can be kept in stock more easily - a factor that should not be ignored given the current gaps in the supply chains. On the other hand, Absolute owners have a free choice of loose furniture and floor coverings.
Generous layout of the Absolute 75
Although the interior is generously dimensioned, the outdoor areas are just as impressive, with a Portuguese bridge at the front and an additional sunbathing area in front. And in the rear? There is no standard access as shown on the 2021 Navetta 64 a guest cabin, but the absolute necessity for many Navetta 75 owners: crew quarters. "A popular configuration for this size is a captain plus a deckhand," says Mastroianni, standing in the extended lazarette. As the engine room is further forward than on the Navetta 73, there is even room for up to three people at the very stern. And what a view! All that separates the crew from the lowerable bathing platform is a glass pane that swings upwards. When the tender is parked here, the view is of course obscured. Alternatively, the dinghy or toys occupy the rear flybridge, which then has to be extended by a davit crane.
As the drive comes to an end, Cesare Mastroianni does not miss the opportunity to take over the Roman Catholic parking procedure. To do this, the Absolute CCO moves into the cockpit and reaches for the optional Volvo Penta joystick, which is integrated into the wetbar on the starboard side and provides an excellent overview.
Absolute's flagship launches for a starting price of 3.5 million euros. For the demonstration model, the extras, which include a Seakeeper 6 gyro stabiliser, add up to 4.3 million euros. Yacht owners in this segment are used to far greater discrepancies between basic and full equipment. Incidentally, the standard version of the Navetta 75 also includes an outdoor shower. This is also located in the hinged stern fin, which is supplied with electricity and water at the end.
Technical data
- Length over everything: 22,82 m
- Torso length: 19,68 m
- Width: 5,61 m
- Depth: 1,65 m
- Displacement (empty): 59,6 t
- Material: GRP
- Motors: 2 x Volvo Penta D13
- Engine power:2 x 735 kW
- Drive:2 x IPS 1350
- Speed (max.):24 kn
- Speed (travelling): 20 kn
- Generators: 2 x 19 kW
- Fuel: 4000 l
- Water: 1100 l
- Navigation: Garmin
- Construction: Absolute Yachts
- Exterior design: Absolute Yachts
- Interior design:Absolute Yachts
- Class: CE "B"
- Shipyard:Absolute Yachts, 2022, www.absoluteyachts.com
- Starting price: from 3.5 million euros
